Sanctuary?

Velth comes strolling back into the church of St. Ninians. After a day out exploring the countryside, he can confirm that he is completely uncertain if he's headed in the right direction. The fox sets his pack down against the wall, tucking it into one of the few remaining pews along with his shield and spear before he begins to prowl about the abandoned grounds. He hadn't expected to find such a place in the woods, but he recalled a scrap of a story as he was walking the woods, and now hunts around looking for evidence that this is the same building. It seems a good way to pass the hours before the sun sets. Besides, he's not seen ear not tail of another beast all day.

Even so it appears that beasts were here, and recently if the smoldering ashes of the camp fire is any indication. The camp fire was left just outside the ruin by the door. The snow lining the grass has been disturbed by many foot paws but there is no sign of any beast present here. The ruins appear empty...for the moment.

After kicking around some bits of debris for a bit, the fox is unable to turn up anything terribly interesting. It's about what he expected; the years have been unkind to the place, and anything that was there was likely swept away by time long ago. He returns to the church entrance, and gazes out into the darkening winter landscape. Perhaps he should move camp. He didn't leave anything behind in the church while he was gone though, and whoever made the fire had done the same. Perhaps it was just travellers passing by and stopping for a hot meal in the shelter of the old building. Just to be safe, he'd bed down further inside.

The ruins greet the fox with their own warm embrace. Even after being deserted the building is still sheltering travelers from the harsh cold outside. To a point. Snow has blown through the broken windows and gaps in the roof. There is little left to the ruins other than half rotten furnature that beasts have broken down over the years for either fire wood or for the simple pleasure of breaking things.

Today though something new has been added a small pool of blood lays directly in the door way. Dropplets lead away from the enterence to the back of the building, behind an over turned bench.

Velth kneels down and inspects the blood, gingerly touching it with a finger to see if its congealed, "You weren't here when I left..." He comments, suddenly wishing he hadn't put his spear down.

A beast appears at the back of the room, half crouched under the cover of the bench. A rat with a beedy red eyes and dark fur. All other details are lost as he levels a cross bow at the fox. "Who are you...what...what are you doing here?" His paws shake as he aims the loaded crossbow at Velth. His fur is glossy with sweat.

Velth's head snaps up, his ears coming fully forward to attention. He pauses for a moment, considering the creature inside, then takes a calming breath, and wipes his paws off on the snow. "My name's Velth." He says, calmly, "I was travelling the road and thought I'd stop here for the night." His eyes never leave the rat, and his legs tense a bit under him, ready to spring aside at the first sign of trouble.

Velth stays quite still for a moment as he sees the rat fall, before he calls out to him, "Do you need help?"

The rat rolls onto his back, breathing heavily through pain. "I...I'm afraid I'm beyond h-help son. This arrow is burried clear up...up into my gizzards. They...they came...I don't know how they found us. They shot me first and left me for dead...they...they will be back soon..."

Velth, seeing that he's no longer under suspicious, runs to get his gear and quickly files into the church. He throws his things back down in a heap, keeping his spear handy this time as he comes over to the rat and kneels down beside him. "It's bad." He agrees as he inspects the arrow, "But you just might survive it." He reaches out to the arrow, then hesitates, "You know what has to happen next?" He asks.

Beads of sweat trickle down the Rat's head. His ears are tattered and torn from previous healed injurries. His breathing becomes labored as panic sets in. "I do...but I don't want to think about it." The rat gulps, giving the fox a nod to let him know that he can pull it out.

Then, after a moment of hesitation, he asks, "Are you some kind...kind of healer beast?"

Velth nods grimly, pushing the rat over slightly, "Aye; treated more wounds than you've dealt." He says, checking the head of the arrow to make sure it doesn't have to be broken off. Fortunately, it's a simple broadheaded arrow, with a stone head that's easily removed, and he soon he lets the rat lay back. He strips off a footwrap, and binds it about one of the rat's bolt, placing it in his mouth, "Sorry about the smell, but you'll thank me when you've got teeth after this." He says, and places one hand on the rat's stomach, before grasping the arrow, and quickly yanking it out.

Even through the wrap the rat's scream can be heard in all directions. And unfortunetly it meets a reply.

There is a shout from outside. Muffled voices can be heard speaking and the sound of foot paws through snow can be heard.

The rat leans back, dazed in shock and pain. He doesn't reply, he just stares off into space.

Velth quickly tosses the spent arrow away, takes the bolt from the rat's mouth, unspools his footwrap, his paws going faster and faster as desperation sets in. Once he has his footwrap back, he turns the cleaner inside outwards, wads it up, and stuffs it under the rat and into the wound to stop it leaking too much blood as he hastily grabs his spear and shield, and turns to face the doorway. "Who goes out there!?" He calls, like any good sentry.

"Th-they found us...fox...please...don't let them...don't let them..." he goes limp with pain and exhastion. The fox's question is soon answered by the pressence of one, then two, then three otters.

Each otter carries a spear, a simple stick really with a sharpened point on one end. One spear is decorated in a trio of knotch marks, one can only presume what they mean...

The beasts file into the doorway spreading out as they go. Black tribal tatoo's line their neck, arms, and back. Two wear tunics of earthen colors witha rope belt tied around their waist, the female of the group leaves her stomach exposed, wearing red cloth wraps around her chest. Each beast wears a necklace made of pike teeth.

They make no attempt to communicate with the fox. They simply...watch for now, spears ready for trouble.

Velth sinks down, ready, his shield gurding him from the otter at the center and the one on his left, while his spear stands ready against the one on his right. He carefully nudges the rat behind him with the butt of his spear, and murmurs, seriously, "Don't make any sudden moves back there. We'll get out of this." He tries addressing the otters as best he can. "Greetings..." He says, uncertain how to proceed, "I guess this is yours?"

The otter in the middle replies with a savage yell, he rises his spear high like a club, trying to strike Velth in the head.

The rat begins to crawl away, slowly, panic flowing through him.

Velth takes a step back, bracing himself for the blow and raising his shield to meet it. Without hesitating or waiting, he stabs back with his own weapon, raising his own warcry of "Alalaaaa!!"